Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything in his really cool world.
Summary (Chp. 1-3): Dumbledore announces a new class, taught by Dr. Gavin Branefeld, to prepare for a two-week sailing field trip. Gryffindors are paired with Slytherins; secondary Professor for class is Professor Sinistra (witch). Hermione and Draco are paired up. Hermione breaks down into tears, gets comforted by Ginny. The trio picks up textbooks in Hogsmeade run into Draco when they get back. Draco and Hermione plan to meet in library after lunch to prepare a homework assignment.
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Chapter 4: The Homework Assignment
After finishing a delicious spaghetti lunch, Hermione, bag slung over her shoulder, headed to the library. She reverently entered the large wing, deeply inhaling the wonderfully musty smell of thousands of books. The library had been her shrine, of sorts, since the first day she had entered into Hogwarts. A feeling of loss settled upon her when she saw Draco, a smirk plastered on his face, waiting for her at an empty, round table. Her shrine had been desecrated.
"Let's get started," Hermione said, glaring at his lackadaisical expression.
"We should probably decide upon the ship we are going to write about, first, Granger," he drawled.
"Wow, I didn't realize you were so smart, Malfoy," she snapped back.
The two stared each other down for a few minutes.
"You know, the sooner we get started, the sooner we can be out of each other's presence," she commented icily.
"Fine."
The two of them moved towards the library shelves and immersed themselves in finding books that dealt with the history of the seas. After an hour of pulling, skimming, replacing, and more pulling, the two of them returned to the table, each laden with books.
"I think I have found a great ship for us to write about," Hermione said, opening a large tome entitled ::Ships of the Mid-Century::. "The Maranow was the first ship to make its way__"
"I'm not writing about any muggle or mudblood ships," Draco interrupted.
"Fine," she glared, "what did you find?"
"The Salmon Freeze," he stated.
"And why is it important?"
"Sorry, I forgot, a mudblood wouldn't know. Though you probably should," he commented, an evil glint in his eyes.
"And why should I?"
"Because the ship provided valuable service to the wizarding world."
"And what service would that be?" Hermione asked, growing impatient.
With a grin he answered, "Why, muggle slaves. Too bad the slave trade is illegal now, you'd have made a great one," he said snidely, a sneer crossing his features.
Hermione glared at him so ferociously that Draco almost audibly gulped. "You are despicable!" she hissed.
"Well, I call it as I see it, Granger," he snarled, recovering from her glare.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Hermione tried again.
"We need to lay down some ground rules for the next six months, Malfoy."
"And why would that be?"
"Because, I want to get a good grade in this class, and part of my grade will, unfortunately, have to depend on you and your work. If all we do is argue when we are attempting to complete work, we'll both get bad grades," she stated reasonably.
Draco watched her for a moment. Her eyes never broke contact with his. With a curt nod of his head, he agreed to discuss the option.
"So, what exactly do you mean by 'ground rules'?" he questioned.
"Well, no name calling, for starters. I won't call you Ferret Boy and you won't call me Mudblood."
"Fine. What else?"
"We agree to work quickly and diligently so that we can get through with our work, spending as little time together as possible."
"Sounds perfect to me."
"Finally, in regards to our current assignment, we each get three vetoes. I veto Salmon Freeze."
"Good, I veto Maranow, and all muggle or mudblood ships."
"Malfoy, that's not how veto works," Hermione sighed.
"Well, then, choose a wizard ship," he snapped.
Hermione stared at him loathingly for a moment.
"How about this ship?" she finally questioned, pushing an open book toward him.
He looked at the painting of a moving ship. The wind was merrily snapping the sails around, while sailors were scrambling up and down the riggings. A sharply dressed man, presumably the captain, paced the quarterdeck, stopping occasionally to look at the horizon through a telescope. On the side of the ship was the name Vintmoor.
"Well, the ship looks alright, but what did it do?" Draco asked, pushing the book across the table.
"Don't know how to read?" she snapped.
"Shut up, Granger. Of course I do, but seeing as you already know about the ship, I figured it would be easier to ask you."
"Fine. This ship discovered the Island of Malnese."
"Really?" Draco sat up, pulling the large tome back over.
"Yes."
"I thought that the Island of Malnese was a myth," he said, awe in his voice.
"And you call yourself a pureblood?"
He answered her with a glare.
"Well, what do you think?" she questioned.
Draco, continuing to silently pour over the information contained in the book, didn't hear her.
"Malfoy!" she said sharply.
"What?" he snapped, looking up.
"I asked, what do you think?"
"Well," he drawled, pushing the text unconcernedly across the table, "it wouldn't be my first choice, but it will do."
"Good. Now, let's get busy researching."
For the next two hours, the two students silently poured through manuscripts and documents about the Vintmoor and the Island of Malnese. With a large yawn, Hermione sat back in her chair and stretched.
"How's it going, Malfoy?" she asked.
"Fine. I found some interesting information. Apparently, Captain Solstine went in search of the island when his wife dissapparated. For some reason, he thought she had gone to the island."
"Really? I thought he was just an explorer. That's what these books say, anyway," she said, with a sweeping glance at the various opened books.
Draco continued as though she hadn't spoken. "No one had ever heard of the Island, but Captain Solstine was convinced that she had gone there. So, he gathered up a crew, purchased a ship, and set sail. Four years later, he found the island, and the bleached bones of his wife."
"Gross."
"I know. Here's a painting," he said.
Hermione pushed her chair back, stood, and moved around the table to take a closer look at the picture. A weeping man, probably Captain Solstine, was gripping a bleached skeleton on the edge of a sandy beach. Hermione leaned closer to look at the caption under the painting. As she did, she leaned against Draco. Both were so absorbed in the book, they didn't even notice.
"So, when he found the Island, and his wife, he created the curse," she said softly, reading the next few paragraphs. "Which book is this?" she asked.
"::The First Mate's View: A Travel Log to the Island of Malnese:: It was written by Samuel Lamay, the Captain's first mate. I've read a lot about the Island, mostly in books of myth and legends, but I never read that he had gone in search of his wife," Draco suddenly noticed that Hermione's soft hand was brushing against his own as they looked at the book. For some reason, his stomach flip-flopped.
"Get away from me, Mudblood!" he suddenly hissed, pushing himself away from her.
"I thought we made a deal to not call names, Ferret Boy," she returned venomously.
"Yeah, we did, but I didn't agree to have to be touched by you."
"Let's just get this report written, then we won't have to worry about touching each other," she said, moving back to her side of the table.
"Fine."
For a few moments they sat in silence.
"Let me write the report," Draco said into the silence.
"Sure, whatever."
Draco and Hermione, staying on opposite sides of the table, worked out an outline and then buckled down, finishing the two-foot long report in two hours.
"Well, then, that's it. We won't have to see each other again, until Monday morning," Hermione said, relief filling her voice.
"Good by me," Draco agreed. But for some reason, he wished they weren't done with their report.
"Hey, Malfoy," Hermione looked over at him, "what curse did Captain Solstine put on the island?"
"No one really knows. The Island is still considered a myth by most, so it's not really been discussed."
"Oh, well, then, I'm going to go." Without further ado, she stood, gathered her stuff, and left.
Draco watched her leave, feeling strangely abandoned.
Summary (Chp. 1-3): Dumbledore announces a new class, taught by Dr. Gavin Branefeld, to prepare for a two-week sailing field trip. Gryffindors are paired with Slytherins; secondary Professor for class is Professor Sinistra (witch). Hermione and Draco are paired up. Hermione breaks down into tears, gets comforted by Ginny. The trio picks up textbooks in Hogsmeade run into Draco when they get back. Draco and Hermione plan to meet in library after lunch to prepare a homework assignment.
_____________________________________________________________
Chapter 4: The Homework Assignment
After finishing a delicious spaghetti lunch, Hermione, bag slung over her shoulder, headed to the library. She reverently entered the large wing, deeply inhaling the wonderfully musty smell of thousands of books. The library had been her shrine, of sorts, since the first day she had entered into Hogwarts. A feeling of loss settled upon her when she saw Draco, a smirk plastered on his face, waiting for her at an empty, round table. Her shrine had been desecrated.
"Let's get started," Hermione said, glaring at his lackadaisical expression.
"We should probably decide upon the ship we are going to write about, first, Granger," he drawled.
"Wow, I didn't realize you were so smart, Malfoy," she snapped back.
The two stared each other down for a few minutes.
"You know, the sooner we get started, the sooner we can be out of each other's presence," she commented icily.
"Fine."
The two of them moved towards the library shelves and immersed themselves in finding books that dealt with the history of the seas. After an hour of pulling, skimming, replacing, and more pulling, the two of them returned to the table, each laden with books.
"I think I have found a great ship for us to write about," Hermione said, opening a large tome entitled ::Ships of the Mid-Century::. "The Maranow was the first ship to make its way__"
"I'm not writing about any muggle or mudblood ships," Draco interrupted.
"Fine," she glared, "what did you find?"
"The Salmon Freeze," he stated.
"And why is it important?"
"Sorry, I forgot, a mudblood wouldn't know. Though you probably should," he commented, an evil glint in his eyes.
"And why should I?"
"Because the ship provided valuable service to the wizarding world."
"And what service would that be?" Hermione asked, growing impatient.
With a grin he answered, "Why, muggle slaves. Too bad the slave trade is illegal now, you'd have made a great one," he said snidely, a sneer crossing his features.
Hermione glared at him so ferociously that Draco almost audibly gulped. "You are despicable!" she hissed.
"Well, I call it as I see it, Granger," he snarled, recovering from her glare.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Hermione tried again.
"We need to lay down some ground rules for the next six months, Malfoy."
"And why would that be?"
"Because, I want to get a good grade in this class, and part of my grade will, unfortunately, have to depend on you and your work. If all we do is argue when we are attempting to complete work, we'll both get bad grades," she stated reasonably.
Draco watched her for a moment. Her eyes never broke contact with his. With a curt nod of his head, he agreed to discuss the option.
"So, what exactly do you mean by 'ground rules'?" he questioned.
"Well, no name calling, for starters. I won't call you Ferret Boy and you won't call me Mudblood."
"Fine. What else?"
"We agree to work quickly and diligently so that we can get through with our work, spending as little time together as possible."
"Sounds perfect to me."
"Finally, in regards to our current assignment, we each get three vetoes. I veto Salmon Freeze."
"Good, I veto Maranow, and all muggle or mudblood ships."
"Malfoy, that's not how veto works," Hermione sighed.
"Well, then, choose a wizard ship," he snapped.
Hermione stared at him loathingly for a moment.
"How about this ship?" she finally questioned, pushing an open book toward him.
He looked at the painting of a moving ship. The wind was merrily snapping the sails around, while sailors were scrambling up and down the riggings. A sharply dressed man, presumably the captain, paced the quarterdeck, stopping occasionally to look at the horizon through a telescope. On the side of the ship was the name Vintmoor.
"Well, the ship looks alright, but what did it do?" Draco asked, pushing the book across the table.
"Don't know how to read?" she snapped.
"Shut up, Granger. Of course I do, but seeing as you already know about the ship, I figured it would be easier to ask you."
"Fine. This ship discovered the Island of Malnese."
"Really?" Draco sat up, pulling the large tome back over.
"Yes."
"I thought that the Island of Malnese was a myth," he said, awe in his voice.
"And you call yourself a pureblood?"
He answered her with a glare.
"Well, what do you think?" she questioned.
Draco, continuing to silently pour over the information contained in the book, didn't hear her.
"Malfoy!" she said sharply.
"What?" he snapped, looking up.
"I asked, what do you think?"
"Well," he drawled, pushing the text unconcernedly across the table, "it wouldn't be my first choice, but it will do."
"Good. Now, let's get busy researching."
For the next two hours, the two students silently poured through manuscripts and documents about the Vintmoor and the Island of Malnese. With a large yawn, Hermione sat back in her chair and stretched.
"How's it going, Malfoy?" she asked.
"Fine. I found some interesting information. Apparently, Captain Solstine went in search of the island when his wife dissapparated. For some reason, he thought she had gone to the island."
"Really? I thought he was just an explorer. That's what these books say, anyway," she said, with a sweeping glance at the various opened books.
Draco continued as though she hadn't spoken. "No one had ever heard of the Island, but Captain Solstine was convinced that she had gone there. So, he gathered up a crew, purchased a ship, and set sail. Four years later, he found the island, and the bleached bones of his wife."
"Gross."
"I know. Here's a painting," he said.
Hermione pushed her chair back, stood, and moved around the table to take a closer look at the picture. A weeping man, probably Captain Solstine, was gripping a bleached skeleton on the edge of a sandy beach. Hermione leaned closer to look at the caption under the painting. As she did, she leaned against Draco. Both were so absorbed in the book, they didn't even notice.
"So, when he found the Island, and his wife, he created the curse," she said softly, reading the next few paragraphs. "Which book is this?" she asked.
"::The First Mate's View: A Travel Log to the Island of Malnese:: It was written by Samuel Lamay, the Captain's first mate. I've read a lot about the Island, mostly in books of myth and legends, but I never read that he had gone in search of his wife," Draco suddenly noticed that Hermione's soft hand was brushing against his own as they looked at the book. For some reason, his stomach flip-flopped.
"Get away from me, Mudblood!" he suddenly hissed, pushing himself away from her.
"I thought we made a deal to not call names, Ferret Boy," she returned venomously.
"Yeah, we did, but I didn't agree to have to be touched by you."
"Let's just get this report written, then we won't have to worry about touching each other," she said, moving back to her side of the table.
"Fine."
For a few moments they sat in silence.
"Let me write the report," Draco said into the silence.
"Sure, whatever."
Draco and Hermione, staying on opposite sides of the table, worked out an outline and then buckled down, finishing the two-foot long report in two hours.
"Well, then, that's it. We won't have to see each other again, until Monday morning," Hermione said, relief filling her voice.
"Good by me," Draco agreed. But for some reason, he wished they weren't done with their report.
"Hey, Malfoy," Hermione looked over at him, "what curse did Captain Solstine put on the island?"
"No one really knows. The Island is still considered a myth by most, so it's not really been discussed."
"Oh, well, then, I'm going to go." Without further ado, she stood, gathered her stuff, and left.
Draco watched her leave, feeling strangely abandoned.